Bedford trucks?

[Jordan]

hi all,

i saw a couple beford 1 ton (or more) trucks while on vacation in st. lucia and i was wondering if there is any info out there on them.

thanks
jordan

[Bud Tierney]

About all I know is they're a Brit firm. Georgano's little names book shows them as built by Vauxhaul, apparently since about 1931. Don't have much modern stuff, so can't say whether still in production. Should be more info on Google.

[ListerDiesel]

Vauxhall's brand name for their truck range. Made in Luton & Dunstable until the 1970's when they shut the factory. The car factory remained, but that has gone as well now, just leaving the IBC factory (Isuzu-Bedford) which makes the Renault/Vauxhall/Nissan/Opel vans.

Trucks and vans under the Bedford name were also rebadged Isuzu product in some parts of the world, and in others they were shipped as CKD and locally assembled.

The smallest vans were based on the HA Viva car, but there were also van-only versions like the CA, CF and others.

Best-known truck was the TK, the last versions were the TL and the largest the TM with a Detroit Diesel V6 or V8. Still quite a few around, the army still has a few TM's in service, and the 4WD stuff is still in service.

We used to live by the car plant in Luton, lived there for 10 years so saw a lot of the factory and stuff going in and out.

Peter

[Inter Bloke]

Dozens of em around here!
GM sold them here in huge numbers after the war up until the 70s. The J series from the 50-60s was probibally the most common truck on the Australian roads when they were new. Mostly 1 to 8 ton they were solid and reliable but a bit unglamourous, used a 6 cyl pushrod engine with a lot of similarities to the old Chevy 6. The KGL petrol (er Gas to you blokes) and Diesels from the 70s were the last sold in any real numbers, and they were a forward control cab over unit, there is still a few of them working around the district.
Nice to hear there's still some working in the Carribean.

[Happy Old Iron]

Hello,

I don't know exactly when they stopped producing them, but in Tractor & Machinery is 1 announced from 1980, 1984 and even one from 1986. They had terrible brakes . Or nothing at all, or you hit the windshield at the first touch on the pedal.

Marc.

[Jordan]

thanks for the info. i had never seen one before now i know a little about them

jordan